United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has revealed that President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to prioritise the protection of Nigerian Christians targeted by ISIS-linked groups.

Speaking at a White House press briefing on Wednesday, Hegseth said Trump issued the directive about a year ago after learning about the killings of Christians in Nigeria by extremist groups operating in the region.

According to him, the U.S. military worked behind the scenes with Nigerian forces, deploying assets that led to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s second-in-command in Nigeria and a key figure behind attacks on Christians and threats against the United States.

Hegseth added that intelligence gathered during the operation in the Lake Chad Basin also helped eliminate hundreds of ISIS fighters linked to attacks in Nigeria.

He said the operation demonstrated the Trump administration’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.